Apollo Beach / Ruskin / (Southshore Area) is growing very quickly. I moved here in 2014 from a little north of here, the Riverview Area. I saw some planning put in place prior, and some after the fact. There are bike lanes up and down US 41, US 301, 19th St, 30th St, and other streets. There are tons of routes that you can ride and not pass a car for hours. It's rural still, but I always say it's the "new New Tampa". People moved from Tampa city limits to the burbs (remember Fishhawk was "it" for a long time?) to get out of the city after working there all day. Many areas have boomed and tapered off as they were built out. Our area has many new homes which bring new traffic and cyclists, but they don't always mix well. I have had people honk, swear, and throw soda cup at me. Under cycling laws in Florida, FS 316.2065, the bicycle regulations state, "Cyclists on roadways fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles." The law states that bicycles are to be treated as a vehicle. Vehicles belong on the road, so ride there, but in a certain manner that is predictable and understood by motorists. For the simplest guide on how to do this effectively, copy and paste the link below.
Quick Story:
I was commuting to work up US 41 at 0430 am. My bike lane ended in the darkness and in a quick decision, I decided to try to jump on the sidewalk instead of competing with the coffee raged traffic trying to get to work as fast as possible. This quickly became more dangerous for me. I could not see the curb clearly in the darkness and misjudged where I thought it became flush with the pavement by about 5 inches. I hit the tapering curb when it was still about three inches high. I bent my front rim and abruptly ended my commute. I could have flipped and broke my neck. This is why I should have stayed on the right side of the car lane and forced them to notice me as a entity that belonged there. This is why I am sharing about FL Bike Laws here.
See below for FS 316.2065
Bicycle regulations.—
(1) Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter, except as to special regulations in this chapter, and except as to provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
(2) A person operating a bicycle may not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
(3)(a) A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his or her person in a backpack or sling. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), a bicycle rider must carry any passenger who is a child under 4 years of age, or who weighs 40 pounds or less, in a seat or carrier that is designed to carry a child of that age or size and that secures and protects the child from the moving parts of the bicycle. (c) A bicycle rider may not allow a passenger to remain in a child seat or carrier on a bicycle when the rider is not in immediate control of the bicycle. (d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, final rule, 16 C.F.R. part 1203. A helmet purchased before October 1, 2012, which meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 Bicycle Helmet Standards), the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets adopted by the department may continue to be worn by a bicycle rider or passenger until January 1, 2016. As used in this subsection, the term “passenger” includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle. (e) Law enforcement officers and school crossing guards may issue a bicycle safety brochure and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection. A bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection may be issued a citation by a law enforcement officer and assessed a fine for a pedestrian violation, as provided in s. 318.18. The court shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider or passenger for a first violation of paragraph (d) upon proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet that complies with this subsection.
(4) No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle may attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway. This subsection does not prohibit attaching a bicycle trailer or bicycle semitrailer to a bicycle if that trailer or semitrailer is commercially available and has been designed for such attachment.
(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. 3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. (b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane.
(7) Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by this section. A law enforcement officer may issue a bicycle safety brochure and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider who violates this subsection or may issue a citation and assess a fine for a pedestrian violation as provided in s. 318.18. The court shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider for a first violation of this subsection upon proof of purchase and installation of the proper lighting equipment.
(8) No parent of any minor child and no guardian of any minor ward may authorize or knowingly permit any such minor child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this section.
(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(11) No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, may go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk; and, when so crossing, such person shall be granted all rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians.
(12) This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street authorized herein or as designated by state, county, or municipal authority.
(13) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakes which will enable its rider to stop the bicycle within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.
(14) A person engaged in the business of selling bicycles at retail shall not sell any bicycle unless the bicycle has an identifying number permanently stamped or cast on its frame.
(15)(a) A person may not knowingly rent or lease any bicycle to be ridden by a child who is under the age of 16 years unless:1. The child possesses a bicycle helmet; or 2. The lessor provides a bicycle helmet for the child to wear. (b) A violation of this subsection is a nonmoving violation, punishable as provided in s. 318.18.
(16) The court may waive, reduce, or suspend payment of any fine imposed under subsection (3) or subsection (15) and may impose any other conditions on the waiver, reduction, or suspension. If the court finds that a person does not have sufficient funds to pay the fine, the court may require the performance of a specified number of hours of community service or attendance at a safety seminar.
(17) Notwithstanding s. 318.21, all proceeds collected pursuant to s. 318.18 for violations under paragraphs (3)(e) and (15)(b) shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund.
(18) The failure of a person to wear a bicycle helmet or the failure of a parent or guardian to prevent a child from riding a bicycle without a bicycle helmet may not be considered evidence of negligence or contributory negligence.
(19) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a pedestrian violation as provided in chapter 318. A law enforcement officer may issue traffic citations for a violation of subsection (3) or subsection (15) only if the violation occurs on a bicycle path or road, as defined in s. 334.03. However, a law enforcement officer may not issue citations to persons on private property, except any part thereof which is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.
Ten Tips for Successful Cycling
Courtesy of CyclingSavvy
1) Ride on the road.
Think about where each of these motorists is looking before crossing the sidewalk.
Adult bicyclists do not belong on the sidewalk. Sidewalk cycling increases conflict for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. Sidewalk cycling is not only inconvenient and slow, it actually increases your risk of being hit by a car because it aggravates turning and crossing conflicts. The sidewalk also presents many more hazards such as poles, posts and branches.
2) Know and follow the rules.
The rules of the road are for everyone. They exist to make us all predictable to one another. Bicyclists who violate the rules are not only far more likely to be hit by a car, they are disruptive and breed animosity among fellow road users. The basic rules:
First come, first served.
Always ride the same direction as traffic.
Yield to traffic before entering a road.
Yield to overtaking traffic when changing lanes.
Obey all traffic control devices.
3) Integrate in the intersections.
Always use the lane that serves your destination.
Turn left from left turn lanes.
Never ride straight in a right-turn-only lane.
When approaching an intersection in a wide lane or a bike lane, merge left into the main traffic flow or lane.
The crosswalk is the WORST place to cross a busy intersection.
4) Ride Big.
Most close passing is a result of the motorist thinking he can squeeze past without changing lanes. Make sure a driver can clearly see that his car won’t fit within the same lane.
Most roads have lanes that are not wide enough to be safely shared by cars and bikes operated side-by-side. You are allowed the full use of a lane that is not wide enough to share. Communicate that the lane is not wide enough for a motorist to squeeze past you by riding far enough left that there clearly is not room for the width of a car between you and the lane line.
Riding big makes you visible and encourages motorists to give generous passing clearance. It also gives you someplace to go if a motorist does come too close.
5) Communicate.
You are part of the system, you need to be predictable to others. Communication makes you predictable. Signal turns and lane changes. When motorists know what you want to do, most of them will try to help you out!
6) Be mindful of your surroundings.
The most common reasons to leave a bike lane.
Markings on the roadway are static. Traffic is dynamic. As a result, bike-specific markings sometimes put you in the wrong place. You MUST take your cues from the whole environment. Never let paint think for you.
Make sure you are visible to crossing and turning traffic. This often means leaving a bike lane and moving to the left side of the general use lane.
Never ride within 5ft of a parked car. This area is called the “door zone.” A suddenly-opened car door can be deadly. Some bike lanes are striped entirely within the door zone.
Passing a queue of stopped traffic on the right can expose you to many crash hazards. Sometimes it’s better just to wait in the queue.
Never, ever pass a large truck on the right!
7) Understand how traffic flows.
If you understand traffic flow, you can anticipate and place yourself in a position which makes things easier for yourself and your fellow road users. In the CyclingSavvy course, we teach you in detail about how traffic controls and road features influence traffic flow, and how you can take advantage of this.
8) Want respect? Act respectably.
One road. Many Users. All of us are traffic.
Be considerate of your fellow road users. But also demonstrate respect for yourself. Control your space by default and help motorists pass you when appropriate. Offer a friendly wave when others are respectful of you. When motorists arrive before you at a red light, stop behind them. Don’t pull to the front of the queue and make them have to get around you after the intersection.
9) Let it go: don’t escalate harassment.
You will be passed uneventfully by thousands of considerate citizens for every one jerk who yells or honks. So, when someone does honk or yell at you, let it go. Smile and wave (with all five fingers), or pretend you heard nothing. They will simply move on with their negative self and you can remember the nice person who smiled and waved you through a lane change a few minutes before.
10) Keep it fun!
Bicycling offers a higher trip quality than most other forms of transportation. This is true whether you ride on quiet streets or share the road with motor traffic. Interacting with other road users is a dance you lead. The better you are at communicating and operating predictably, the better your dance partners will be. Those of us who ride mindfully, with a friendly attitude toward our fellow road users, seldom experience close calls or hostility.
More resources about cycling traffic laws.
From: Florida Bicycle Association; Impeding Traffic Explained
In closing, if you want to want to experience a fun group ride which both, educates motorists on how to safely interact with cyclists AND gives cyclists the confidence and smarts to interact with traffic, look no further. Critical Mass: Ruskin/ Apollo Beach is a once a month event that takes place on the last Friday of each month, Rain or Shine. We will meet at 7 pm at the Salty Shamrock and ride out at 7:20 pm. Everyone will stay together and we will ride only as fast as our slowest rider. We will all start and finish together. The route will be briefed at 7 pm sharp. Must haves are a spare tube for your tire, lights, and hydration. Everyone is encouraged to have the appropriate safety gear and helmets. You're adults! If you bring kids, they are your responsibility but they MUST have a helmet under the age of 16. The routes will vary, but will always be approx.10 miles long and approx.10 mph. Everyone is encouraged to bling out their bikes, add lights, and wear costumes. This event is an awareness campaign that says cyclist can and will use the roads under Florida State Law: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm… Share this page with your cycling neighbor, come on out and ride, and stick around afterwards. It will be a great time no matter what happens!!
See the Facebook page for details and posts about our Critical Mass ride.
Ride on,
Duane C Stamm
Natiive Cycler
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